5 Blue Jays players who could begin the year on the roster but be gone by May

The Toronto Blue Jays are in thick of spring training, which means there are plenty of players on the roster still battling it out for a roster spot. In fact, a lot of the players on Toronto's roster bubble have played well this spring, which could result in Toronto's front office having to make some tough decisions.

But starting the year with the big league club doesn’t guarantee a permanent roster spot for the rest of the year since an impressive spring doesn't automatically result in a productive regular season.

With that in mind, here's a look at five Blue Jays who could begin the year on the roster but be gone by the time May rolls around.

5 Blue Jays players who will begin the year on the roster but could be gone by May

LHP Josh Walker

The Jays signed Walker to a one-year, $760,000 major league deal in the offseason to add some much-needed depth to their bullpen.

Walker spent six seasons in the Mets' organization, where he posted a less-than-stellar 5.11 ERA, along with six walks and 11 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings of work over 10 relief appearances in MLB.

But Walker has a few things working in his favor as he fights for a bullpen spot. He is one of the few lefty relievers on the Jays’ 40-man roster and he also has some MLB experience, which should give him a leg up on the competition. He's also looked good this spring, as he has a 3.38 ERA, 0.56 WHIP with zero walks and five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings pitched over four appearances. That solid performance could give him the inside track to one of the final bullpen spots.

That said, the 30-year-old struggled with the Mets, and he still has a minor league option still available, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see him back in Triple-A sooner rather than later if he struggles at the start of the season.